2008 Woodie Awards
Gym T-shirt policy receives student opposition
Jason Enes
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
The implementation of the new T-shirt policy at Reed Gymnasium has been controversial from the beginning. Chris Tillman, an ISU Graduate Student and Personal Trainer, has been trying to get the policy removed, but so far he has been unsuccessful.
According to administration officials, the T-shirt policy, which went into effect on Nov. 8, was implemented to protect the people who use the equipment in the weight and cardio rooms from the spread of disease, and more specifically, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.
According to the Center for Disease Control Web site, "Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities who have weakened immune systems."
With this information in hand, Tillman took his case in front of the ASISU Senate on Monday, Feb. 4, to try and have the policy removed and to get some answers from Doug Milder, Director of Campus Recreation, about what the rational was for instituting the policy. Milder responded to requests for an interview, but due to time constraints his comments regarding the policy will be printed in the next issue of the Bengal.
At the Senate meeting, Milder said that the policy is to preserve and protect the equipment and to stop the spread of disease in the gym. Tillman, however, felt that wasn't really the issue.
"The proper maintenance is not being done in the weight room," Tillman said. "It's common sense that most disease is transferred via the hands."
In response to this, Milder claimed that he had someone in the gym cleaning from 8 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday. He also said that it is not cost effective for the gym to provide and wash towels to be used to wipe down the equipment. Paper towels are, however, provided to wipe down the machines after they are used.
There are other universities that have similar policies in place, such as Boise State University, which adopted its T-shirt policy after opening its new gym. There are, however, no major commercial gyms in the area that have similar policies.
The ASISU Senate voted on a resolution concerning the T-shirt policy Monday night, and the results of that vote will be published in next week's Bengal.
According to administration officials, the T-shirt policy, which went into effect on Nov. 8, was implemented to protect the people who use the equipment in the weight and cardio rooms from the spread of disease, and more specifically, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.
According to the Center for Disease Control Web site, "Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities who have weakened immune systems."
With this information in hand, Tillman took his case in front of the ASISU Senate on Monday, Feb. 4, to try and have the policy removed and to get some answers from Doug Milder, Director of Campus Recreation, about what the rational was for instituting the policy. Milder responded to requests for an interview, but due to time constraints his comments regarding the policy will be printed in the next issue of the Bengal.
At the Senate meeting, Milder said that the policy is to preserve and protect the equipment and to stop the spread of disease in the gym. Tillman, however, felt that wasn't really the issue.
"The proper maintenance is not being done in the weight room," Tillman said. "It's common sense that most disease is transferred via the hands."
In response to this, Milder claimed that he had someone in the gym cleaning from 8 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday. He also said that it is not cost effective for the gym to provide and wash towels to be used to wipe down the equipment. Paper towels are, however, provided to wipe down the machines after they are used.
There are other universities that have similar policies in place, such as Boise State University, which adopted its T-shirt policy after opening its new gym. There are, however, no major commercial gyms in the area that have similar policies.
The ASISU Senate voted on a resolution concerning the T-shirt policy Monday night, and the results of that vote will be published in next week's Bengal.
Be the first to comment on this story